26 Children’s Books We Love for Pre-K to 5th Grade

As my kids get older, I want our home library to evolve so that my kids stay engaged and challenged. There are so many talented children’s authors and illustrators out there that it sometimes feels overwhelming to find just the right book that’ll impart a valuable lesson to my kids while keeping all of us entertained, especially after reading it no less than 179 times.

Lucky for me, my best friend is a librarian, which means I’m always a text message away from a great book recommendation for myself and my kids. Recently, I asked her to give me a list of kid-tested and librarian-approved books for a huge range of ages: preschool to high school. In consultation with her colleagues, she delivered a great mix of classic, popular and unique books. Here’s part 1 of the list, covering preschool and elementary-aged children. Stay tuned for a future post with recommendations for middle school and high school students.

Looking for a new book to read to your infant or toddler? Choose some from the start of this list and they’ll remain cherished favorites for years to come.

What books do you love reading to your kids? Tell us about them in the comments!

This is a wonderfully unique book, a hand-made collection of art, published by an equally awesome organization called Tara Books. The publisher works with artists (mostly from India) to hand-make paper and hand-print and bind all their books. This is an incredibly rare book-making process, which makes it a special gift that’ll foster children’s appreciation of art.

This fantasy-adventure series follows Percy Jackson, an ordinary kid who must find seven magic Loculi to save his own life.

So what are you waiting for? Head to your local library to pick up any of these books or to get other age-appropriate recommendations for your kids. If you’d love to have a personal selection of new books for your child on a regular basis and can’t fit in trips to the library, check out the monthly subscription service, Book Tree, which is available around the Bay Area and in Los Angeles. However you do it, get books into your kids hands. As Jackie Kennedy once said, “There are many little ways to enlarge your child’s world. Love of books is the best of all.”

About Rebecca

Originally from New Jersey, Rebecca moved to San Francisco in 2008 with her husband to start their married life together. They met at Penn State where Rebecca earned her Bachelors and Masters degrees in Human Resources and Labor Relations. Rebecca worked for two Fortune 500 companies in a variety of HR roles before surprising everyone, including herself, and leaving her job to stay home with her kids. Now, she uses her HR skills in communications, personal development and, of course, conflict resolution to navigate the world of toddlers, stay-at-home moms, preschool, and the playground. Follow her on social media @rlang165 and on BeckyRebecca.com.